I know I'm new to violins, but I plan on playing them for the rest of my life. I have that much of a passion to learn, and I want my kids to learn them as well (or at least appreciate them). I read that you can make your own violin, and I think I may try that at some point.

i also read a student at a college create a cello with a styrofoam top and wonder if a violin could be made the same way. I don't have a lot of money, or experience using some of the tools described in violin making, but that caught my interest.

would anyone have suggestions on how to go about creating a new style violin with styrofoam (either the body being styrofoam, or just the top like the cello had)?

MrYikes

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August 6, 2015 - 1:40 pm

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My Journey with the violin would be much further along had I spent my time practicing rather than learning how to work on the violin. The Styrofoam was used to get more volume with less effort. The same can be accomplished with an amp. But the bottom line answer to your question, yes it can be done with several years experimenting using varying materials. There is a lot of pressure being applied to the violin body and it all must work as a system.

Fiddlerman

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August 9, 2015 - 7:39 pm

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No experience with styrofoam instruments but I have played on Carbon Fiber instruments. They are remarkably good considering that they are not made of wood. 🙂

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
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Kevin M.

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August 22, 2015 - 10:31 pm

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I would start with a kit first. Most of the work is done and the top and bottom needs only to be graduated. The bouts can be bent with a homemade form. There are directions on the web to make a bender From pipe and a heat gun. Good luck on your violin.